zazen posture
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also putting the body right · uvedenie tela do poriadku · small autonomic muscles of the spine · cross-postural reflexes · natural breathing in zazen · seiza and back problems · making a zafu · bowing toward the cushion · zazen instructions · uvedení těla do pořádku · malé autonómne svaly chrbtice · malé autonomní svaly páteře · krížové posturálne reflexy · zkřížené posturální reflexy · prirodzené dýchanie v zazene · přirozené dýchání v zazenu · seiza a problémy s chrbtom · seiza a problémy se zády · šití zafu · poklona k poduške · úklona k podušce · návod na zazen · držení těla v zazenu CZ
Summary
The most important point in practising zazen is to keep the back naturally straight and balanced vertically. Putting the body right is one aspect of zazen, and the posture itself helps us to do nothing. When we are tense, the small autonomic muscles of the spine become shorter; Mike thinks that sitting with crossed legs activates deep reflexes in the spine that let it relax and lengthen. Zazen is not a martial art, so in zazen we can breathe naturally.
Part of ↑ zazen
Includes ↓ clarity from posture ↓ ears level with the shoulders ↓ full-lotus and half-lotus posture ↓ lengthening the spine ↓ Master Hone facing the wall ↓ natural curve of the spine ↓ nine years facing the wall ↓ no fixed posture in zazen ↓ posture between straight and slumped ↓ seated buddhas of the sixth century ↓ sitting in the balanced state ↓ sitting without hands in the lap ↓ standard method of zazen ↓ still as a mountain ↓ wobbling a head to find rigidity
Main theme
The second aspect of zazen is putting the body right, making the body right.
1Zazen from Four Viewpoints June 2005 — Lotus Centre
To keep the back naturally straight and balanced vertically is the most important point in practicing zazen.
the text below is a translation of the article How to Do Zazen
Developed
if we sit in the posture of zazen, the posture itself helps us to do nothing
4Uji 2: An Alternative to Linear Time Winter 2004 — Uji
When we are tense, the muscles, these small autonomic muscles, become shorter. Our back becomes shorter
5Zen Without Spirituality September 2015 — Banský Studenec
Mention
it activates some kind of deep reflexes in the spine which are called the cross-postural reflexes
6Introductions 3: A Middle Without Intention Summer 2003 — Introductions to Shobogenzo Chapters
But zazen is not a martial art, so in zazen we can breathe naturally
7The Life of Master Dogen June 2005 — Lotus Centre
Also in the narrower keywords
clarity from posture +1 text
When we sit in Zazen, what makes us clear is nothing to with our mental person, really. It’s the posture.
Kuge 4: Nothing to Get Rid Of Winter 2007 — Kuge
lengthening the spine +1 text
it allows the strong muscles between the bones in the spine to relax. And so our spine becomes a bit longer
Enlightenment as a Normal State July 2009 — Dibbavana
Master Hone facing the wall +1 text
When Master Hone in the Chi district saw a monk coming towards him, he would turn to face the wall
An Introduction to Shobogenzo June 2005 — Lotus Centre
seated buddhas of the sixth century +1 text
when you got to the 6th century suddenly all these statues changed to seated buddhas
Uji 4: Contradictory Explanations Winter 2004 — Uji
sitting in the balanced state +6 texts
Zazen is balance. And so balance without holding ourselves.
Shoaku Makusa 3: Balance and Not Doing Wrong Winter 2006 — Shoaku Makusa via posture between straight and slumped sitting without hands in the lap wobbling a head to find rigidity spine as a pile of stones
My teacher, Nishijima Roshi, used to insist that sitting in zazen is sitting in the balanced state
Zazen Is Not Meditation July 2021 — Skalní fara via sitting without hands in the lap spine as a pile of stones
I like to say sitting in balance, because to me it’s a balanced posture, and it’s the same balance at the centre of sport.
Uji 1: Time Is the Present Winter 2004 — Uji
sit in the balanced state. So not leaning backwards or forwards, with the weight of your head balanced on your shoulders
Buddhism Through European Glasses August 2014 — Banský Studenec
Because we are sitting in a balanced posture, we get the benefit of that posture
The Heart Sutra: Labels and Reality September 2013 — Banský Studenec
We sit in a balanced posture, not forward, not backward, not to one side or the other
MMK 3: Cutting Through Categories Summer 2008 — Nagarjuna’s Mulamadhyamakakarika
standard method of zazen +1 text
Just make the body right and sit up straight. Do not lean to the left, incline to the right, slouch forward, or lean backward.
Fukan-zazengi Shobogenzo via nine years facing the wall
changing sides in half lotus +1 text
I developed this hip problem which is without any doubt the result of me sitting one way without changing for a long time
Buddhism Free from ‘Buddhism’ September 2009 — Earth Spirit
balanced posture of dhyāna +2 texts
He realized intuitively that this balanced posture was deeply connected with his simple realization about his life.
The Buddha’s Discovery June 2005 — Lotus Centre
sitting in the posture of dhyana was in some way connected to his balanced state
spine as a pile of stones +1 text
as if your spine bones are a pile of stones, and you're balancing
Action and Result, Living in the Present May 2014 — Banská Štiavnica